Sadiq and the Ramadan Gift | Sadiq and the Bridge Builders | Authored by Siman Nuurali

Title: Sadiq and the Ramdan Gift
Genre: Children’s Book (6-9)
Illustrator: Anjan Sarkar
Series: Sadiq
Publisher: Picture Windows Book, a Capstone Imprint
Released: August 2020
Formats: Hardcover, Paperback, Kindle
Pages: 64
Source: I was gifted a soft copy from Capstone Publishing to review for the #ReadYourWorld Multicultural Children’s Book Day event.
Rating: 5/5
 

It’s Ramadan! In the spirit of the season, Sadiq and his friends want to give back to their community. The friends band together to raise money to build a new school for children in Somalia. They decide to put on a community iftar as a fund-raiser, but not everyone agrees where their efforts should be spent. Can they find a way to work together?

“I don’t know why he’s mad at me,” Zaza said to Ahlam. “I just wanted to explain.” He looked down at his hands.
– Sadiq and the Ramadan Gift, Siman Nuurali
 
Sadiq and his friends decide to raise funds for a community school in Somalia. But things seem to go awry between the friends. Would the fund-raiser be held despite the differences of opinions? If yes, how does that happen?
 
Sadiq and the Ramadan Gift is a story that teaches compassion, empathy, obedience to parents, giving the time and space to listen to others, and the manner in which a fundraiser is held.
 
One concern I have in this story is the reason for fasting. The infamous concept of fasting to “help us think about other people who don’t have food” is not from authentic sources. Though this may be a consequence or a by-product of fasting, it is not authentically stated anywhere in the Qur’an or Sunnah. In fact, what is stated in the Qur’an and Sunnah is:
 
O believers! Fasting is prescribed for you—as it was for those before you—so perhaps you will become mindful ˹of Allah˺.
(Qur’an, 2:183)
 
Mutarrif, from the tribe of Banu ‘Amir bin Sa’sa’ah narrated that ‘Uthman bin Abul-‘As Ath-Thaqafi invited him to drink some milk that he poured for him. Mutarrif said:
“I am fasting.” ‘Uthman said: “I heard the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) say: ‘Fasting is a shield against the Fire just like the shield of anyone of you against fighting.’”
Grade: Sahih (Darussalam)
Sunan Ibn Majah, Vol. 1, Book 7, Hadith 1639
 
I love that the author has shown the story and not told it, especially when it came to reading what the boys were feeling and experiencing.
 
 
Title: Sadiq and the Bridge Builders
Genre: Children’s Book (6-9)
Illustrator: Anjan Sarkar
Series: Sadiq
Publisher: Picture Windows Book, a Capstone Imprint
Released: September 2020
Format: Hardcover, Paperback, Kindle
Pages: 64
Source: I was gifted a soft copy from Capstone Publishing to review for the #ReadYourWorld Multicultural Children’s Book Day event.
Rating: 5/5
 

Lately it seems to be raining constantly, making it difficult for Sadiq to play outside. When the librarian at his school starts a building club, Sadiq and his friends decide to join. They’re tasked with building a city model to withstand a natural disaster. Inspired by the flooding happening in their own community, can Sadiq and friends come up with a solution?

 
Sadiq and Zaza worked on the bridge and river. Kelly and Lydia worked on houses and other buildings. Manny and Halah worked on roads, sidewalks, and streets.
– Sadiq and the Bridge Builders, Siman Nuurali
 
Sadiq and the Bridge Builders is all about team work! I love how the team was organized, how the team members were focused on their role, and how the partners worked together. Brainstorming ideas with friends, and being inspired by their day-to-day life and utilizing the inspirations in the project were just couple of my takeaways from this creative story.
 
Kudos to the author, illustrator, and publisher in bringing about a wonderfully crafter story for children. 
 
Both books, like Sadiq and the Desert Star and Sadiq and the Green Thumbs (books I had reviewed last year for MCBD2020), start with Sadiq introducing himself and his family in a comic strip, after which they state a couple of Facts About Somalia. Next, Somali Terms used in the stories are introduced along with its pronunciation and meanings. The books then dive into the stories captivating the reader right from the start.
 
Once the stories are done, and the Glossary is over, both books takes the reader to discussion points and activities:
  1. In Talk About It, the parent/teacher-child team discuss on questions related to the story which also serves as reflection points.
  2. In Write It Down, the child is encouraged to participate in creative writing relating to the story – my favourite among the lot.
  3. Lastly, a story-based activity is explained in a step-by-step manner for the child to imbibe what he/she learnt.
Thank you MCBD organizers and Capstone Publishing for giving me the opportunity to review these captivating books!
 
Readers, have you read these books? And if yes, what do you think about them? And if no, why haven’t you already? 😀
 

Multicultural Children’s Book Day 2021 (1/29/21) is in its 8th year! This non-profit children’s literacy initiative was founded by Valarie Budayr and Mia Wenjen; two diverse book-loving moms who saw a need to shine the spotlight on all of the multicultural books and authors on the market while also working to get those book into the hands of young readers and educators.

Eight years in, MCBD’s mission is to raise awareness of the ongoing need to include kids’ books that celebrate diversity in homes and school bookshelves continues. Read about our Mission & History HERE.

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MCBD 2021 is honored to be Supported by these Medallion Sponsors!

FOUNDER’S CIRCLE: Mia Wenjen (Prgamaticmom) and Valarie Budayr’s (Audreypress.com)

Platinum Sponsors: Language Lizard Bilingual Books in 50+ Languages, Author Deedee Cummings and Make A Way Media

Gold Sponsors: Barefoot Books, Candlewick Press, Capstone,  Hoopoe Books,  KidLitTV, Peachtree Publishing Company Inc.

Silver Sponsors: Charlotte Riggle, Connecticut Association of School Librarians, Author Kimberly Gordon Biddle, Pack-N-Go Girls

Bronze Sponsors: Agatha Rodi and AMELIE is IMPRESSED!, Barnes Brothers Books, Create and Educate Solutions, LLC, Dreambuilt Books, Dyesha and Triesha McCants/McCants Squared, Redfin Real Estate, Snowflake Stories, Star Bright Books, TimTimTom Bilingual Personalized Books, Author Vivian Kirkfield, Wisdom Tales Press, My Well Read Child 

MCBD 2021 is honored to be Supported by these Author Sponsors!

Poster Artist: Nat Iwata

Authors: Author Afsaneh Moradian, Author Alva Sachs & Three Wishes Publishing Company, Author Angeliki Stamatopoulou-Pedersen, Author Anna Olswanger, Author Casey Bell , Author Claudine Norden, Author Debbie Dadey, Author Diana Huang & Intrepids,  Author Eugenia Chu & Brandon goes to Beijing, Green Kids Club,  Author Gwen Jackson, Author Janet Balletta, Author Josh Funk, Author Julia Inserro, Karter Johnson & Popcorn and Books, Author Kathleen Burkinshaw & The Last Cherry Blossom, Author Keila Dawson, Maya/Neel Adventures with Culture Groove, Author Mia Wenjen, Michael Genhart, Nancy Tupper Ling, Author Natalie Murray, Natalie McDonald-Perkins, Author Natasha Yim, Author Phe Lang and Me On The Page Publishing, Sandra Elaine Scott, Author Shoumi Sen & From The Toddler Diaries, SISSY GOES TINY by Rebecca Flansburg and B.A. Norrgard, Susan Schaefer Bernardo & Illustrator Courtenay Fletcher,  Tales of the Five Enchanted Mermaids, Author Theresa Mackiewicz, Tonya Duncan and the Sophie Washington Book Series, Author Toshia Stelivan, Valerie Williams-Sanchez & The Cocoa Kids Collection Books©, Author Vanessa Womack, MBA, Author Veronica Appleton & the Journey to Appleville book series

MCBD 2021 is Honored to be Supported by our CoHosts and Global CoHosts!

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FREE RESOURCES from Multicultural Children’s Book Day

Diversity Book Lists & Activities for Teachers and Parents

Homeschool Diverse Kidlit Booklist & Activity Kit

FREE Teacher Classroom Activism and Activists Kit

FREE Teacher Classroom Empathy Kit

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TWITTER PARTY! Register here!

Join us on Friday, Jan 29, 2021, at 9 pm EST for the 8th annual Multicultural Children’s Book Day Twitter Party!

This epically fun and fast-paced hour includes multicultural book discussions, addressing timely issues, diverse book recommendations, & reading ideas.

We will be giving away an 8-Book Bundle every 5 minutes plus Bonus Prizes as well! *** US and Global participants welcome. **

Follow the hashtag #ReadYourWorld to join the conversation, connect with like-minded parts, authors, publishers, educators, organizations, and librarians. See you all very soon on Twitter!

Hashtag: Don’t forget to connect with us on social media and be sure and look for/use our official hashtag #ReadYourWorld.

 

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